D. Hamilton Jackson
David Hamilton Jackson | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | September 28, 1884 |
| Died | May 30, 1946 (aged 61) St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands |
| Occupation | Educator, Bookkeeper, Newspaper Editor, Lawyer, Judge, Councilman |
| Known for | Crucian Leader of Civil Rights Movement, Labor Movement Organizer |
David Hamilton Jackson (September 28, 1884 – May 30, 1946) was a labor rights advocate in the Danish West Indies, later the United States Virgin Islands. Jackson was an important figure in the struggle for increased civil rights and workers' rights on the islands. He petitioned for freedom of the press, and organized the islands' first trade union. Following the transfer of the territory to American control in 1917, he lobbied for US citizenship for the islanders.
Life and career[]
Jackson worked as an educator and later a bookkeeper and clerk before becoming involved in the politics of the Danish West Indies. He traveled to Denmark and successfully petitioned for the repeal of a 1779 law which prohibited independent newspapers and enforced strict censorship on all publications in the territory. Upon returning home, he established the first free newspaper, . The date of this event, November 1, is celebrated as an annual public holiday known as "", , or in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
With the help of Ralph Bough, Jackson organized the first union in the Danish West Indies, , in 1913. He lobbied for the transfer of the islands to American control. After his visit, a majority of the Folketing was convinced that Danish rule over the islands should be ended.[1]
A residential community in Christiansted has been named in his honour.
See also[]
- 1878 St. Croix Labor Riots
References[]
- ^ Lidegaard, Bo (2006) [2003]. Dansk u denrigspolitiks historie 4: Overleveren 1914-1945 (in Danish) (2nd ed.). Copenhagen: Gyldendal. p. 80. ISBN 87-02-04976-7.
Sources[]
- St. Croix Public School: D. Hamilton Jackson Biography
- https://web.archive.org/web/20160310145643/http://www.virgin-islands-history.org/en/fates/d-hamilton-jackson-rebel-and-hero/
- https://web.archive.org/web/20151210111349/http://webpac.uvi.edu/imls/pi_uvi/profiles1972/Judges_Attorneys/Jackson_DH/text.shtml
External links[]
- "The Herald" issues openly online in the Digital Library of the Caribbean
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- 1884 births
- 1946 deaths
- American civil rights activists
- Leaders of American trade unions
- United States Virgin Islands activists
- People from Saint Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands
- People from the Danish West Indies
- Danish trade unionists
- Labor in the Caribbean
- Workers' rights activist stubs